rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/sop-the-student-debt-trap?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-sop-the-student-debt-trap' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Social Work Resistance https://actionnetwork.org/groups/social-work-resistance https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/share_options/facebook_images/000/064/069/original/Student_Debt_(6).png The Trump Administration's proposed education budget will harm millions of students and college graduates by making deep cuts to programs that make college more affordable and ease the burden of student loan debt. As social workers, we serve the most marginalized in our society by providing highly specialized services in health care, substance abuse treatment, mental health, child welfare, and many other areas. Our work requires high levels of specialization that often requires an advanced degree while only providing modest salaries. Proposed cuts to federal subsidized loans will shift billions of dollars of debt in interest alone  to current students over the next 10 years. These added costs will make it harder for students and new professionals to build a secure financial future. What's more, the proposed budget increases the amount that must be paid each month as part of the income-based repayment plan from 10% to 12.5% of borrowers' income and would require payments for 30 years for individuals with advanced degrees before any chance debt forgiveness. The most egregious change is the proposed elimination of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The PSLF allows anyone working in a public service job--which includes most social workers--to have their remaining student debt forgiven after 10 years of payments. The program was designed to encourage more people to enter professions such as social work, education, and rural health care that provide essential services to underserved populations. These proposals directly impact social workers and will make it harder for already struggling professionals to make ends meet. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sop-the-student-debt-trap